USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Royalston > Reflections on Royalston, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A > Part 16
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TOWN HOUSE, OCTOBER, 1873.
April 23, 1866, the Town voted to build a new town house and chose Chauncy Chase, John King, Daniel Davis, Joseph L. Perkins, Benjamin H. Brown, Luther Harrington and Russell Morse, Jr., as a Committee to report on plans, location, estimates, etc., and as Building Committee. (Mr. Morse died Oct. 27, 1867, before the building was completed.) The Town accepted the plans of the Committee, with the location on the Com- mon indicated at 15C on the map, on land presented by Chauncy Chase. Mr. Chase was the architect and contractor, and the town voted "not to exceed $6,000" for the building; the amount was later increased to $9,000, and the actual net expenditure was $8,999.97. The main hall on the second floor was provided with a gallery, and the first floor with a smaller auditorium (for many years known as "Bullock hall"), and other rooms for the transaction of town business and other purposes.
Joseph Raymond presented four marble memorial tablets in com- memoration of the soldiers from Royalston who gave their lives in the War of the Rebellion, and placed them on the walls of the main hall. Mrs. Emily Bullock Ripley presented the American eagle vane which was placed on the cupola. George F. Miller presented a clock for the hall. The main hall was frescoed and provided with a chandelier by generous subscriptions by many people.
The hall was first used Dec. 17, 1867, for dedicatory exercises, with Rev. Ariel Ebenezer Parish Perkins and Governor Alexander Hamilton Bullock, sons of Royalston, as the principal speakers.
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THE LIBRARIES.
At the dedication of the Phinehas S. Newton Library Building, the story of which will soon be told, Dr. Frank W. Adams read a very inter- esting and illuminating paper on "The Libraries of Royalston." From a record book found among the effects of George Pierce he had been able to build up a story of what was undoubtedly the first library worthy of note in Royalston; Mr. Pierce had been the latest secretary of the or- ganization controlling it. The library was founded in January, 1778, and the organization was called "The Library Company in Royalston," at first, and a few years later the name was changed to "The Social Library of Royalston." It continued 71 years, and was dissolved in 1849.
Rev. Joseph Lee was secretary and librarian down to the year 1800, at least, and quite likely the library was kept at his home. It was open for the distribution of books six times in the year, on the Wednesdays preceding the second Sundays in January, March, May, July, September and November.
At a meeting held May 7, 1778, it was voted that each member pay into the treasury, for the purpose of increasing the library, two shillings in money, or grain, butter, flax or flaxseed. And there is a record several years later of a committee's report on the prices at which the various grains and other products should be credited.
A conception of the kind of literature in demand in those early days is gained from action taken March 7, 1787: "Voted that the money laid out for books, being divided into ten equal parts, be laid out for books upon different subjects in the following proportion, viz .: Three-tenths parts for books in divinity and moral philosophy; three-tenths for his- tory and biography; two-tenths for arts and sciences; one-tenth for law and physics; one-tenth for poetry, novels and miscellany."
As showing the change in the literary tastes of Royalston's reading public, or of those who selected the literature for the public library, the annual reports for the six years 1912 to 1917, give the classification of the books added; the whole number added was 1093, and 722 were classed as fiction-nearly seven-tenths.
That there was another social library in Royalston was shown by the record, in 1817, of the admission to the original social library of 18 mem- bers of the "second social library." And the probability that there was a separate ladies' library is indicated in the report that an ancient volume inscribed "Ladies' Social Library, No. 149," has been found and pre- sented to the public library.
In January, 1849, the Social Library voted to divide its books, and it is stated that a little later they were sold at auction, thus ending the work of an institution that had been in existence for about 71 years, and which must have numbered the people of several generations in its active membership.
A law enacted in 1842 provided that any school district in the state, on raising $15 for a library, should be entitled to an equal amount from the state treasury, the whole to be invested in books selected by the state authorities. The Center district and five others in Royalston secured libraries on this plan.
A few years after the closing out of the Social Library a Farmers' Club was organized at the Center, which acquired a small library, nearly all of the books being on agricultural topics. After a few years the club became dormant, and the books remained largely unread until they were placed as will soon be told.
The Royalston Public Library, which was to become a permanent in- stitution, was started in 1874. Mrs. George Woodbury, secretary of the Ladies' Benevolent Society, an organization which had been in existence since 1824, is given the credit and honor of having introduced the sugges- tion that led the society in January of that year to undertake the raising
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of sufficient funds to establish a library. Subscriptions were solicited, and the proceeds of entertainments and suppers were added to the pile. Joseph Raymond added zest to the project by offering to contribute $250 when the ladies should have raised a like amount.
The ladies were so successful in their endeavors that in a few months they had secured the $500, which was invested in books; the Farmers' Club donated the 60 books of its library, previously mentioned, and the Royalston Public Library was opened Oct. 10, 1874, with 474 volumes, as indicated by the highest number in the little catalogue, but the exact number was 478, as 4 volumes were crowded in on 12 numbers.
The Library was installed in one of the rooms on the first floor of the town house, and was managed by the ladies for several years, new books being added occasionally, the catalogues showing 693 volumes in 1880.
The use of the Library was not at first strictly free, as the rules provided for "the payment of 25 cents semi-annually, in advance," by each person taking books. The rules provided that the Library should be open "every Saturday; from 4 to 7 o'clock p. m. between the first of May and the first of November, and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 p. m. between the first of November and the first of May," except when Saturday was a holiday. .
Misses Emma L. Pierce and Harriet E. and Lizzie L. Walker served as librarians during those early years, and perhaps there were others, whose names have not been handed down, who rendered similar service.
It was probably at the annual March town meeting of 1881 that the Town accepted the ownership and care of the Library, as at a town meeting held four weeks later, April 4, 1881, rules were adopted for its regulation, which were printed in a catalogue issued in 1882. Probably the Town acquired the ownership of the Library, which must have con- sisted of some 700 volumes, without a dollar of expense. Since that time the Town has made annual appropriations, increasingly varying from $50 to $300, for books, catalogues, librarian's services and other expenses.
The first one of the rules adopted in 1881 read as follows: "This Li- brary shall be called the Raymond Public Library." This was in honor of Joseph Raymond, who contributed $250 for the beginning. This name was continued for several years; but in 1896, when a new general cata- logue was issued, the name became Royalston Public Library again.
The Library has been enriched by numerous gifts. In 1899 Mrs. Timothy Bliss left a legacy of $1,500 to the Library, as a memorial to her husband, a descendant of one of the old families of the town. This fund has yielded an income of between $60 and $70 per year, which has been expended for books. Miss Edith E. Metcalf, another descendant from an old Royalston family, has since 1911 contributed $30 annually, which has provided 15 or more of the best periodicals for the reading room. Other friends, both resident and non-resident, have contributed books and periodicals amounting to hundreds of dollars; and the state, through the Free Public Library Commission, has given a large amount of books and valuable cataloguing material and accessories.
Soon after the acceptance of the Library by the Town in 1881, Miss Elizabeth Waite Chase became librarian, and served most faithfully for more than 15 years, until she was incapacitated by an accident, which resulted in her death, Dec. 14, 1896. Miss Maria L. Bragg served in the position from Nov. 1, 1896, until Sept. 1, 1897. Since the latter date, for a term of more than 23 years, (at this writing in 1920,) Mrs. Emeline E. (White) Mackenzie has been the courteous and efficient librarian.
PHINEHAS S. NEWTON LIBRARY BUILDING.
At the annual March town meeting in 1910, an offer was presented from Phinehas S. Newton, -a native and life-long resident of the town, - to build and present a library building, at a cost of $10,000, provided the Town would furnish a location for it. The proposition was accepted,
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and a committee, consisting of Levvens G. Forbes, Everard B. Hanson and Luke B. Shepardson, chosen to attend to the matter.
When all available locations had been considered, selection was made of a lot on the northeasterly corner of the former Rufus Bullock estate, designated at 39C on our map. The estate was then the property of William H. Hill, and he presented the lot as a memorial to his deceased wife, who had been for many years a summer resident of Royalston.
Work was begun on the building in August, 1910, and it was finished in June, 1911. H. M. Francis & Sons of Fitchburg were the architects, and Boutwell & Damon of Fitchburg the builders. It is 50 by 36 feet, one story, with a well lighted basement and an attic. The exterior is of red brick with brown sandstone trimmings. The interior is finely finished and furnished with library accessories and modern conveniences.
PHINEHAS S. NEWTON LIBRARY BUILDING.
THE DEDICATION.
The Phinehas S. Newton Library Building was dedicated on Wednes- day, June 28, 1911. Mr. Newton spared neither pains nor expense in making the occasion a glad day for the old town. He sent out hundreds of invitations, with the result that large numbers of former residents, relatives, and friends acquired in his long business career, came to see the beautiful building, and unite with the townspeople in honoring the generous donor and enjoying the exercises.
The Starrett Band, of Athol, gave concerts on the Common morning and afternoon. A collation was served in the Town Hall, for guests from out of town, by Caterer Edwin M. Read, of Fitchburg; and the children were regaled with ice-cream at a tent on the Common.
The dedicatory ceremonies and entertainment were held in the First Congregational Church, the Library Building not being large enough to accomodate the large number attending, and a proposed plan to use the
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surrounding lawn having been relinquished. The exercises commenced at two o'clock and occupied a large part of the afternoon.
Dr. Frank W. Adams conducted the exercises is his felicitous way, and introduced the features of the program with pertinent allusions. The program was in this form: Selection on the organ by Miss Cora E. Stockwell; prayer by Rev. Charles G. Fogg; vocal solo, by Mrs. Addie G. Heath (omitted on account of the illness of Mrs. Heath); historical sketch, "The Libraries of Royalston," Dr. Frank W. Adams; vocal duet, Mrs. Jennie A. Richards, of Athol, and Mrs. Leota M. Richards, of Fitchburg; address on "The Library and the Town from the Viewpoint of the Business Man," Frederick C. Nichols, of Fitchburg; address on "The Library and the Public Schools," Fred W. Cross; vocal solo, Mrs. Jennie A. Richards; presentation of deed and keys, Donald M. Hill, son of the donor of the site; acceptance on behalf of the Town by Charles H. Brown, chairman of the board of Selectmen, who read resolutions of thanks adopted by the Town; acceptance on behalf of the Library Trus- tees, by Rev. Francis J. Fairbanks, chairman of Trustees. At this point Dr. Adams read a letter from Miss Bertha Lee, presenting to the Library a beautiful clock, the gift of herself, Mrs. Evelyn Converse and Wallace Pierce, in memory of J. Howard Lee, a former summer resident of Roy- alston; Rev. Francis J. Fairbanks responded in acceptance of the gift. Vocal solo, Miss Cora E. Stockwell. Here Dr. Adams called from the audience Dr. Maurice H. Richardson, of Boston, who entertained the company with apt remarks. The principal address of the occasion was reserved for the last; it was by Hon. Herbert Parker, of Lancaster, who with his profound logic, witty sallies, and eloquent tribute to Royalston's benefactor, held the interest of the audience for a long time. The exer-i cises were closed with the singing of "America" by the audience and the benediction by Rev. Augustus M. Rice.
The Library Building, which had been beautifully decorated with flowers and foliage under the direction of Miss Bertha Lee, was visited by large numbers of people, both previous to and following the exercises. The church had been finely trimmed with ferns and laurel by Mr. and Mrs. Colin Mackenzie.
The handsome clock presented as mentioned above, is an astronomical clock, noting not only the time of day, but the days of the week, the months of the year, the changes of the moon, etc. The Trustees' report says that it "turns its face with benignant welcome toward everyone crossing the threshold."
With its removal into the new building the Library was re-named "The Phinehas S. Newton Public Library."
The growth of the Library is shown by the number of volumes on its shelves in the successive years, as follows: 1874, 438; 1880, 693; 1896, 1,735; 1901, 2,080; 1912, 3,225; 1913, 3,424; 1914, 3,530; 1915, 3,742; 1916, 3,927; 1917, 4,137; 1918, 4,318; 1919, 4,456; 1920, 4,631.
TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY.
The names of the 9 men who have served as Trustees of the Library for the 40 years from 1881 to 1920 (the year of this printing), with the years of their service, are as follows:
1881-1884, Dr. Frank W. Adams, Dr. Henry O. Adams, Alfred D. Ray- mond.
1885-1894, Dr. Frank W. Adams, Alfred D. Raymond, Jeremiah A. Rich. 1895-1899, Dr. Frank W. Adams, Jeremiah A. Rich, Rev. Francis J. Fairbanks.
1900-1911, Dr. Frank W. Adams, Rev. Francis J. Fairbanks, Caleb W. Day. 1912-1918, Dr. Frank W. Adams, Rev. Francis J. Fairbanks, Levvens G. Forbes. 1919-1920, Dr. Frank W. Adams, Colin Mackenzie, Sumner C. French.
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These Trustees have performed their duties in managing the opera- tions of the Library, procuring the books and keeping them catalogued, without salaries, and with little if any remuneration of any kind for their services as Trustees. Two of them have served as janitor of the new building, for which they have received salaries. Dr. Frank W. Adams served on the board of Trustees continuously for 40 years.
In 1898 a delivery service was established for patrons of the Library at South Royalston, the books being transported and distributed from a designated station at the Town's expense. This feature has made the advantages of the Library available for many who had no means of communicating with the Library, located 4 miles distant. The privilege has been well used, and the statistics show that in some years the num- ber of books sent to South Royalston has been more than 40 per cent. of the whole number loaned.
COMPARATIVE LIBRARY STATISTICS.
Ordinarily, we are obliged to admit that Royalston, in company with many other country towns, is retroceding, in population, in business, in church membership, in school attendance. Does it not give us a thrill, then, when we discover that the old town is actually making a better showing along some line than some other place supposed to be "better fixed" and more progressive than old Royalston !
Bethought me to see how Fitchburg and Royalston compare in library privileges and the use they make of them; here is the result.
Fitchburg's Library building cost $84,500, in 1885, when the city had a population of 15,375, -a valuation of building of about $5.50 for each person; or, based on the 1920 valuation of $103,200, and a population of 41,000, the figures drop down to $2.52 per capita.
Royalston's Library building cost $10,000 in 1911, when its popula- tion was about 850, giving $11.76 worth of building per capita.
Fitchburg's Library contained 63,047 volumes, Nov. 30, 1920, which was an average for the 41,000 population of 11/2 books per capita.
Royalston's Library contained 4,820 volumes, Jan. 1, 1921, -the 1920 official census gave a population of 819,-nearly 6 books per capita.
Fitchburg Library's expenditures for 1920 were $13,975.49, -an aver- age of about 34 cents per capita.
Royalston Library's expenditures for 1920 were $370.08, -an average of more than 45 cents per capita.
Fitchburg's Library in 1920 had 7,008 persons registered as taking books, -about 17 per cent. of the population.
Royalston's Library in 1918 had 275 persons registered as taking books, -about 30 per cent. of the population.
Fitchburg's Library loaned during the 13 years 1908 to 1920, inclusive, an average of a trifle over 2 books per capita per year; the highest aver- age in any year being 2.4 and the lowest 1.9. (Note the decimals.)
Royalston's Library loaned during the 7 years 1914 to 1920, inclusive, an average of more than 7 books per capita per year; the highest aver- age was in 1915, -7.75 books per capita. (Note the decimals.)
Fitchburg's Library loaned during the 13 years 1908 to 1920, inclusive, from 61 to 71 per cent. of fiction, the average for the 13 years being 66.4 per cent. of the whole number of volumes loaned.
Royalston's Library has not always reported the number of volumes of fiction loaned; but in 1915 it was 88 per cent .; in 1916, 86 per cent .; in 1917, 97 per cent., and in 1918, 95 per cent. of the total volumes loaned.
These comparisons have not been made for the purpose of disparag- ing Fitchburg's Library, which ranks high among the libraries of the state and the nation.
But the comparisons show that Royalston's Library, when considered on the basis of population, is "ahead" of the larger one in a surprising degree, in quantity and value of equipment, and in the actual use made of that equipment.
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Probably one reason for the larger use of the Royalston Library, amounting, as has been shown, to between 3 and 4 times as many books per capita, is found in the fact that Fitchburg has many theaters, parks, and other means of entertainment and amusement, and the reading mat- ter is neglected. Royalston people make up for the lack of public diver- tisement by reading the library books. Fitchburg people get thrills in attending moving picture shows, while Royalston people seek them through reading novels; which may account to a large extent for the very large percentage of fiction loaned.
Fitchburg has in its extensive population a large percentage of for- eign-speaking people, who, while they may find some books in their own languages in the public library, have extensive libraries, and even daily newspapers printed in the city, in their own languages, and thus fail to make use of the public library; but their children, brought up in the public schools, become patrons of the public library. Royalston has ac- quired a contingent of foreign-speaking population, but probably not as large a percentage as Fitchburg.
CONCERNING CATALOGUES.
The first catalogue of the Royalston Public Library, issued in 1874, was printed in 16 small pages with cover, in which the titles were grouped under 8 different headings, with the names of authors given in part, and all numbered consecutively from 1 upward; there was no attempt at any- thing like alphabetical arrangement. Little supplements were issued for several years, giving lists of new books added, consecutively numbered.
In 1882 a catalogue was issued, in 58 pages and cover, in which books were listed alphabetically by both titles and authors; the former num- berings were retained, but of course could not appear in consecutive order. A list of books classified by subjects, without the numbers, was also given. Supplementary catalogues were issued at intervals of one or two years. The numbers under this plan showed more than 1600 volumes in the library in 1894.
In 1896 a catalogue was issued in more than 100 larger pages than in either of its predecessors, with cover. The books were arranged alphabetically by both titles and authors' names. The consecutive num- bering was dropped, and in its place was instituted what might be called shelf or section numbering; thus, 101 was the number on the 1st book on the 1st shelf or section; 3516 was the designation of the 16th book on the 35th section; and 6307 did not indicate that there were 6307 books in the library, but it was the designation for the 7th book on the 63rd section.
This plan of numbering allowed for the addition of new books at any time, numbered for spaces not previously filled on the shelves in use, or for new shelves or sections. All numbers would be permanent, and a new catalogue could be made up at any time, taking in all the books added, without re-numbering a book. This seemed to be about as con- venient and labor-saving a system as could be devised. Three supple- mentary catalogues had been issued under this plan, and a fourth was under consideration, when the proposition for the new library building come up, and the matter was delayed, awaiting developments.
"DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM" CATALOGUES.
In 1885, the City of Fitchburg having received from Hon. Rodney Wallace the gift of the Wallace Library and Art Building, the Trustees of the Fitchburg Public Library deemed the occasion of the removal of the library to the new building the best time for the overhauling of the books and cataloguing them under a new system. An expert cataloguer was secured, to classify and number the books according to the "Dewey Decimal System," the invention of Melvil Dewey, the librarian of Co- lumbia College, who had established a bureau to furnish assistance to libraries in the preparation of catalogues under this system.
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In applying this "Dewey Decimal System" each book is classified as to its subject under one of 10 divisions, indexed by the 10 Arabic numerals, as follows: 000 General Works; 100 Philosophy; 200 Religion; 300 Sociology; 400 Philology; 500 Natural Science; 600 Useful Arts; 700 Fine Arts; 800 Literature; 900 History. Each of these 10 classes is again subdivided into 10 others, each indicated by a numeral in place of the cipher in the middle of the primary designation; thus, while 800 des- ignates Literature, 810 designates American Literature; 820 English Literature; 830 German Literature; 840 French Literature; and so on, for other countries' literature. A further subdivision substitutes digits for the ciphers in the third place, to express the kind of literature; so that the 3 figures 811 mean Literature American Poetry; 812 Literature American Drama; 813 Literature American Fiction; and so on; and the same way for other countries: 821 Literature English Poetry; 832 Lit- erature German Drama; 843 Literature French Fiction; and so on.
A still further subdivision is indicated by the addition of the decimal point and more figures, to indicate place, time, or something else, which is best illustrated under History. Thus, the figures 974.43 indicate these designations: 9 for History, 7 for North America, 4 for North Atlantic States, the next 4 for Massachusetts, and the 3 for Worcester County. Another figure might be added to designate a city or town in the county, and another for a ward or district in the city or town, and so on.
The expert cataloguer of the Fitchburg Library adopted many "quirks" which are not always used in other catalogues. He indicated the sizes and shapes of books and dates and places of publication by ab- breviations; and he also made 22 of the capital letters of the alphabet serve as abbreviations for male first names by placing a colon after each, and 23 for female names by placing two periods after each; thus: A: for Augustus, F: for Frederick, M: for Mark, and V: for Victor; and on the female names, A .. for Anna, F .. for Fanny, M .. for Mary, V .. for Victoria and Z .. for Zenobia. He used bold-face, small capitals and italics pro- fusely, all of them frequently appearing in one line. All of the various accented letters were used wherever they belonged.
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